Bracing coupling



`March 30,1926. 1,579,160

A. R. SPIKINGS BRACING COUPLING Filed June 17, 1924 nur y,

inverte rea,

ALBERTV RICHARD srrkrnes, onrannrnacrn cnnnfnnw Yoan. y

lB12/AGING COUPLING.

Application filed June 17,1924: fSeralvNm 720,582.1

To @Zlio/7209i@ triep/concern.: f

Be it known that I, ALBERT RrcHARD SHK- INes, acitizenof th'eUnitedStates, residing at Lake Placid Club, in the county of Essex and`State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBracing Couplings, o-f which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

rIhis invention relates to bracing couplings and has relation moreparticularly -to a device of this general character especially designedand adapted for use in connection with railing structures, and it is anobject of the invention to provide novel and improved means whereby abrace can be applied or removed without interfering with the structureor necessitating the taking down of the upper rail of the structure.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedbracing coupling particularly adapted for use in connect-ion with railfittings as disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 696,847,liled `March 4, 19211.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement` of the several parts of my improved bracingcoupling wherebykcertain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more Y fully set forth.

The novel features oflmy invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevationillustrating a bracing coupling constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through a coupling constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a View in bottom plan of the socket member as particularlyillustrated in Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 9 denotes a supporting postor the like to the upper end portion of which is secured a fitting of atype .particularly disclosed in my pending application Serial No.696,847 filed March 4, 1924, and. which fitting has oper-atit/'ely`engaged therewith a: socket member V12;which. may bel rotatableorv nonrotatable desired: Theoliterportion of.. the member 12 is provided witha socket 16 in which is adapted to have threaded engagement an endportion of a railing section 17.

rEhe socket member 12 at its inner portion is provided with a hollowextension. or protuberance 1 substantially semi-spherical in form andwhich is provided in its peripheral wall with a slot 2 one end portion aof which being substantially circular and the opposite end portion Z)being restricted. The slot 2 is disposed lengthwise of the socket member12 with the restricted portion b thereof adjacent to the socket 16.

A cap or head 3 is adapted to be threaded or otherwise connected withthe brace member el. This cap or head 3 at its axial center is providedwith an outstanding member 5 terminating in an enlargement or head 6substantially spherical in form. This head 6 is readily insertablethrough the portion n, of the slot 2 but not through the portion Z). Bythis means the brace member d may be readily adjusted to the angledesired and can be applied or removed with respect to the socket member12 without removing such socket member or in any way interfering withthe associated railing section 17.

lVhile I disclose in the present embodiment of my inventiononly a singleextension or protuberance 1 it is to be understood that a plurality ofthe same can be employed in cluster should the requirements of practiceso necessitate. The particular location of the hollow extension orprotuberance 1 as herein disclosed is also of essential advantage inmaterially strengthening or reinforcing the structure comprised in theassembly of the socket member' 12 as said hollow extension orprotuberance provides added metal or material.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a.bracing coupling constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobel obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof andfor this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to theprecise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown incarrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

A rail structure comprising7 in combination, a socket member` havingrecesses provided at one end thereof for connection with a railing post,the opposite end portion of the socket member being tubular andinternally threaded for engagement with a rail, the central portion ofthe socket member having formed integral therewith a laterally directedhollow extension, the wall of said extension having a slot, a portion ofthe slot being enlarged, a ap adapted for connection with a bracemember, said cap being provided with an outstanding member terminating`in an enlargement, said enlargement being insertable through theenlarged portion ontl the Slot of the extension, and said outstandingmember being movable within 20 the slot.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

ALBERT ll. SPIKINGS.

